Noted horsewoman Nancy McConnell passed away November 22, 2017 at the age of 74. Her son Pat and other friends were by her side.

McConnell grew up in New York, the daughter of Jack and Catherine Bridgman. She developed a love of all animals, especially horses. She and her siblings showed at the county fairs and local shows. When she was a teenager, Eddie K.K. Gutridge moved to a nearby training barn and her interests turned to American Saddlebreds and her eventual husband, Frank McConnell, who was working for Gutridge.

McConnell Stables was founded after their marriage. The family operation was a longtime force in the business with champion horses, ponies, and riders being developed by Frank, Nancy, and Pat. McConnell was a sought after judge and gave back to many other aspects of the sport, like working with Team USA and heading the Dupree family's American Saddlebred Riding Lesson Foundation.

For the past several years McConnell has been a part of Misdee Wrigley Miller's team at Hillcroft Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

A Celebration of Life was held at the American Saddlebred Museum at the Kentucky Horse Park on Sunday, November 26th.